Burlington High School has become the latest in a small but growing list of schools to add the inclusive space.

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Updated: 4:05 PM EST Jan 7, 2019

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WEBVTT . CINDERBLOCK WALLS AND WELL-WORN CHAIRS MAY NOT LOOK FANCY TO YOU, BUT TO HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN EZRA TOTTEN, THEY'RE A NEW SANCTUAR THIS IS NOW A GENDER- NEUTRAL LOCKER ROOM - A STEP FURTHER THAN THE FAMILIAR GENDER-FREE RESTROOMS. BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL - BECOMING THE LATEST IN A SMALL BUT GROWING LIST OF VERMONT SCHOOLS TO TAKE THE STEP. TOTTEN IS TRANSGENDER - TELLING US HE'D SKIP TRAINING RUNS WITH THE CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM BECAUSE HE DIDN'T ALWAYS FEEL COMFORTABLE OR SAFE CHANGING IN THE GUYS' LOCKER ROOM. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MANY TRANS MEN USE CHEST-BINDING UNDERGARMENT S THAT REQUIRE EXTRA PRIVACY. BUT THE DISTRICT HEARD STUDENT CONCERNS: PRINCIPAL NOEL GREEN OKAYING THE CONVERSION OF AN UNDER- USED REFEREES' LOCKER ROOM INTO A SPACE TRANSGENDER OR GENDER NON- CONFORMING TEENS CAN USE: IT HAS A LOCKABLE AREA AND A SINGLE SHOWER DANA KAPLAN HEADS OUTRIGHT VERMONT - WHICH WORKS TO BUILD SAFE, HEALTHY, AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR LGBT AND QUESTIONING YOUTH. HE SAYS GENDER-FREE LOCKER ROOMS MAY LEAD TO HIGHER PARTICIPATION RATES IN AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, WHICH CAN HELP TURN AROUND FEELINGS OF ISOLATIONISM IN THE GROUPS HE SERVES EZRA TOTTEN NOW HAS THAT PLACE -- AND HOPES MORE COMMUNITIES WILL SEE HOW A SIMPLE SIGN CAN HAVE PROFOUND MEANING. IN BURLINGTON, JT, NBC 5 NEWS.

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High school opens new gender-neutral locker room

Burlington High School has become the latest in a small but growing list of schools to add the inclusive space.